UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team is Developing Its Bench

by Derrick Clyburn

The Tar Heels basketball team has different players stepping up to take the scoring slack every game. That’s a great sign to see multiple players score in double-figures. It makes it more difficult for teams to defend. UNC had five players in double-figures and three more with 6 points or more. The North Carolina offense is very potent. It’s time for the defense to catch up with its intensity. Cameron Johnson led the Tar Heels in scoring with 20 points and 6 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

1       2       T

#7 North Carolina      52      49      101

Saint Francis (Pa.)    36      40      76

 

North Carolina  FG    3PT   FT     REB  AST STL  TO  PF   PTS

1. Maye                    4-11   1-1      2-2     10      2       0       2       2       11
2. Brooks                3-4    0-0     1-2     4        0       0       1       4       7
3. Johnson             7-14  2-6     4-4     6        2       1        1       2       20
4. Williams             1-5    1-4      3-4     0       9       1        1       2       6
5. White                  4-11  3-8     5-6     1        1        2       4       0       16
6. Little                    8-9    1-1      2-2     7       0        0       1       3       19
7. Huffman            0-0   0-0     0-0     1       0       0       0       0       0
8. Manley               2-2    0-0     2-3     8       0       0       0       0       6
9. Rush                    0-0   0-0    0-0     1        0       0       1       0       0
10. Robinson          4-5   1-2      2-2     0        1        0       0       2       11
11. Woods               0-1   0-0     2-2     2        7        4       2       2       2
12. Platek                0-1   0-1      0-0     0       1        0        1       0       0
13. K.J. Smith         1-1    1-1       0-0     0       0       0       0       0       3
14. Black                 0-1   0-1      0-0     6        1        0       4       3       0

TEAM    34-65  10-25  23-27  47    24      8      18     20    101

52.3%   40.0%   85.2%

 

St. Francis (PA)  FG   3PT    FT  REB  AST  STL TO   PF      PTS

1. Thompson       2-10   2-4     2-2     5       1       0       0       4       8
2. Laporal              3-4    0-0     0-1      3       0       1       1        4       6
3. King                    7-15   2-2     5-8     3        1       1       4        2       21
4. Wolford            3-8     3-8     9-10   4       0       2       3       3       18
5. Braxton            5-8     2-3     2-4     9       3       5       4       3       14
6. Flagg                 0-1     0-1     0-0     4        1       1        1        4       0
7. Ikediashi          1-3    0-0     0-0     2       0       0       0       0       2
8. Kuzavas           0-0   0-0     0-0     1       0       0       0        1       0
9. A.J. Labriola   0-2    0-2     0-0     0      0       1        0       0       0
10. Dixon-Conover1-4 0-2     0-0     0      0       1        2        1       2
11. Gaskins Jr.     0-2    0-1      0-0     1       1       0       0        0       0
12. Blackmon      1-10   1-6      2-2      1       1       0        2        1       5

TEAM      23-67  10-29 20-27  37    8      13     17     23     76

34.3% 34.5% 74.1%

UNC Bright Spots

Cameron Johnson had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Nassir Little had 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Coby White had 16 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals.

Luke Maye had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Brandon Robinson had 11 points and 1 assist.

Kenny Williams had 6 points and a career-high 9 assists.

Seventh Woods had 2 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assist, and a career-high 4 steals.

Needs Work

The Tar Heels needs to work on stopping dribble penetration and improve on their help side defense. Two of the freshmen Coby White and Rechon Black had 4 turnovers. They must play under control and make better decisions with the ball.

Final Observations

Mid-way through the second half the Tar Heels were struggling on both ends of the floor. Roy Williams inserted Nassir Little and Seventh Woods. The Tar Heels went on a 17-3 run. Woods had five assists and Little had 11 points during that stretch. It was a great move by coach Williams which shows the depth that UNC has to overcome times when the game gets stagnant. Brandon Robinson came off the bench to score 11 points. This team is still finding it’s identity.